Aloe vera care guide

Aloe vera is a succulent. It stores water in its thick leaves, so it wants lots of sun and little care. Most aloes that die indoors die from too much water or too little light.

Light

Give aloe your sunniest window. A south or west window is best. An east window works too.

In low light, the leaves grow thin, pale, and floppy, and the plant leans toward the window.

A plant moved outside for summer can sunburn. Start it in shade for a week or two, then move it into sun.

How often to water aloe

Water when the soil is dry all the way to the bottom of the pot. Then water until it drains out the bottom, and empty the saucer.

In spring and summer, that is often every two to three weeks. In winter, it may be every four to six weeks. Push a wooden skewer to the bottom of the pot. If it comes out clean and dry, it is time.

Firm, plump leaves mean it has enough water. Thin, curled leaves mean it needs more. Soft, mushy, or see-through leaves mean too much. Read how to tell if a houseplant is overwatered or underwatered.

Soil and potting

Use cactus and succulent mix. For extra drainage, mix in perlite or pumice.

A terracotta pot is a good match. It dries out faster than plastic. Always use a pot with a drainage hole.

Aloe grows a shallow, wide root system. Pick a pot wider than it is deep, only a little bigger than the root ball. Repot in spring every two to three years, or when pups crowd the pot. See how to repot a houseplant step by step.

Humidity and temperature

Dry indoor air is fine. Keep it between 13 and 27°C (55 and 80°F). Keep it off cold windowsills in winter, where leaves can freeze against the glass.

Feeding

Aloe needs little food. Feed once or twice in spring and summer with a balanced or cactus fertilizer at half strength. Skip fall and winter.

Pruning

Cut damaged or dried leaves off at the base with a clean knife. Cut whole leaves only, from the outside of the plant. A cut leaf tip does not grow back. It scabs over and stays blunt.

Propagation

Healthy aloes grow pups, small plants around the base.

1. Wait until a pup is a few inches tall with several leaves.
2. Ease the plant out of the pot and find where the pup joins the mother.
3. Cut or pull it free with some roots attached.
4. Let it dry for a day or two, then pot it in dry cactus mix.
5. Wait a week before the first watering.

A single cut leaf almost never grows into a new plant. It rots first.

Problems

What you see	Most likely cause
Soft, mushy, or see-through leaves	Too much water
Thin, curled, wrinkled leaves	Too little water
Pale, floppy leaves that lean	Not enough light
Pale gray, bleached leaves	Sun scald after a sudden move into sun
Brown or red leaves	Too much sudden sun, or cold
Brown, dry leaf tips	Too dry, or old leaves dying off
Plant falls over	Top-heavy in a small pot, or a rotted base

Pests

Mealybugs hide deep in the leaf bases. Scale looks like small brown bumps on the leaves. Dab both with rubbing alcohol on a cotton swab. Fungus gnats mean the soil stays wet too long. Read how to get rid of fungus gnats in houseplants.

Pet safety

The ASPCA lists aloe as toxic to cats and dogs. Eating it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew.

Varieties

True aloe vera has thick, gray-green leaves. Young plants often have white spots that fade as they grow.

Stores also sell other aloes that need the same care:

• Lace aloe has small, spiky rosettes with white dots.
• Tiger aloe has bands of white across dark green leaves.
• ‘Blue Elf’ is a compact aloe with blue-gray leaves.
• Coral aloe has wide, blue-gray leaves with pink edges.

In my house

I like to use the gel. It is lovely to have on hand in summer, in case I get too much sun.

My aloe goes outside in summer. If it has been in the house, it will get sun scald unless you place it with care. It looks like a cactus, so it is easy to think it wants sun. Then all of a sudden it turns a sad, pale gray. Do not do that.

I put mine on the north side of the house, so they get no direct light at all. Once they have been out there for a while, I move them. Gentle transitions are the key.